John M. Murphy

Deputy Murphy was shot and killed in Walnut Creek by man he was questioning about the theft of a gold watch.

The man had previously murdered a prospector and thought that was why Deputy Murphy was coming to question him. He saw the deputy approaching, hid, and then shot him in the back.

After murdering Deputy Murphy, the suspect buried the body under his cabin and then fled the area. The suspect's wife then told sheriff of what had happened. The man was later caught, convicted, and hanged on February 5, 1886.